Plan panel okays Rs 17,985-cr for West Bengal

The Planning Commission today approved Rs 17,985-crore Plan outlay, including an allocation of Rs 100 crore for the development of Naxal-affected areas, for West Bengal for 2010-11.

"We have agreed on a Plan size of Rs 17,985 crore. We have had a full discussion on the different priorities of the state government, they have responded on a number of issues and we are satisfied with the efforts being made with impetus on development in all the critical areas," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said here.

Ahluwalia also complemented the state government for measures taken for improving fiscal health of West Bengal and pointed out that fiscal deficit, revenue deficit and the ratio of interest payment to revenue receipt as percentage of GSDP are showing signs of improvement.

On the priority areas for the allocation, state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said, "Our agriculture activities, our emphasis on small-scale industries, cluster of industries, education, health, these are the priority areas."

The annual Plan size of Rs 17,985 crore is 28 per cent higher than that in the previous fiscal's.

To a query on how much would be earmarked for Naxal-affected areas, West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said, "Rs 100 crore to be allocated for the western part of the state, Naxal-affected areas and the Sundarban region and departments have been asked to focus in these areas."

Further, Dasgupta said that the state targets creation of additional employment for 9 lakh people, with the total production jacked up to at least 9 per cent.

Special emphasis would be laid for the development of minorities, scheduled caste/scheduled tribe and for women and for the disadvantaged, he added.

Ahluwalia said more emphasis was required for improving cold storage, packaging, transportation, processing and marketing of agriculture and horticulture produce as there exists immense employment potential.

"The state with its broad customer base, rich mineral resources and large talent pool, could emerge as one of the leading states to drive the next phase of industrialisation in the country," he said after releasing the West Bengal Development Report 2008.

According to the development report, all expenditure on social sectors should increase to sustain the gains of human development.

The report also stressed more investment in infrastructure sectors, besides agriculture and industrial projects for growth in employment and income.